One of the most stressful situations a driver can encounter on the roads of New Jersey is seeing flashing red and blue lights in their rear-view mirror. If it’s not an ambulance or fire engine, it will be a police officer. If the officer focuses on your vehicle and isn’t trying to pass you, then he or she is attempting to initiate a traffic stop. Even if you believe you did nothing wrong, you need to yield to the officer and pull safely to the side of the road or into a parking lot. Many drivers worry about being ticketed, especially since points can be assessed to the driver’s license and insurance rates can increase. But, can a traffic ticket land you in jail?
The Penalties That Come with a Traffic Violation
The penalties assessed on the majority of traffic tickets are not high. Most traffic violations in New Jersey are penalized between $50-$150. Even though this might be quite a bit of money for some drivers, it is not a steep price to pay for violating the rules of the road in most situations. The fines continue to increase with each offense tacked onto a ticket or the severity of the traffic offense.
Fines issued on traffic tickets can be increased by the local municipality if the driver who was issued the ticket refuses to pay the fines. Those fines will continue to increase after each payment deadline passes with no payment being made. There might come a point where a judge issues a bench warrant for your arrest due to unpaid traffic tickets. This means that the next time you are stopped by the police, the officer will have to place you under arrest.
Issues with the Driver’s License
If you have issues with your driver’s license, you could easily land in jail when stopped by an officer or when issued a ticket. Many drivers who fail to pay traffic tickets can face suspension of their license. This means that they will not be able to drive for a specified period until they can have their license reinstated. If a driver is pulled over while driving on a suspended license they will face arrest and possible jail time. The same goes for anyone driving on a revoked license. Driving on a suspended or revoked license could also lead to your vehicle being impounded and daily fines for impoundment and other offenses.
Never Ignore a Traffic Ticket
It is in your best interest to never ignore a traffic ticket, even if it is for the most minor of offenses and comes with the lowest fine. The longer you ignore a traffic ticket, the more the fines will pile up and the more likely it becomes that a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest. You can fight any traffic ticket issued in court, so it’s important for you to either pay the ticket by the deadline or inform the court that you will be contesting the ticket. It might take months to resolve a traffic ticket issue if you ignore it even for a short period.
Contact an Experienced Cherry Hill Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Traffic Ticket Charges in New Jersey
Were you arrested or charged with a traffic offense in New Jersey? The consequences of a conviction could be severe, leaving you with a permanent criminal record and possibly even sending you to jail. That is why you need to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible about your case. The attorneys at Begelman & Orlow have successfully represented clients charged with a traffic offense in Cherry Hill and throughout New Jersey. Call 866-627-7052 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team. We have an office conveniently located at 411 Route 70 East in Cherry Hill, as well as offices located in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.